Who painted Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments?

Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments was painted by Jan Vermeulen in 1660.

Where can I see Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments?

Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments is held by Mauritshuis.

What movement is Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments?

Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments?

Museum-quality prints of Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments

Jan Vermeulen , 1660

Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Vermeulen. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Together they convey a meditation on the harmony of scholarly and creative endeavors.

The painting presents a carefully arranged still life featuring books, a terrestrial globe, and various musical instruments such as a lute, flute, and violin, arranged on a table with a richly patterned cloth. These objects symbolize the interconnectedness of knowledge, time, and artistic discipline in 17th‑century Dutch culture, reflecting themes of learning and the transience of life. The inclusion of a globe underscores contemporary interest in geography and exploration, while the musical items evoke harmony and the role of the arts in intellectual pursuits. Together they convey a meditation on the harmony of scholarly and creative endeavors.

Technique & Style

The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel, measuring 30 cm by 38.5 cm, and depicts a tabletop with a tablecloth, books, a globe, an hourglass, and various musical instruments such as a violin, lute, and flute. The composition balances richly textured objects with a muted palette, emphasizing the tactile qualities of wood, fabric, and painted surfaces. Formal analysis notes a restrained use of chiaroscuro and a careful rendering of perspective that highlights the spatial depth of the arrangement.

History & Provenance

The painting was created by Jan Vermeulen in 1660 as an oil on panel work measuring 30 cm by 38.5 cm. It entered the collection of the Mauritshuis, where it remains on display.

The work was painted during Vermeulen’s mature period, reflecting his specialization in still-life compositions that combine books, globes, and musical instruments. Its creation date is documented as 1660, and it has been part of the Mauritshuis’s permanent collection since its acquisition.

The provenance records indicate that the painting has been continuously owned by the Mauritshuis since its creation, with no evidence of private sales or transfers before its inclusion in the museum’s holdings.

Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments, painted by Jan Vermeulen in 1660, is housed in the Mauritshuis collection in The Hague. The work measures 30 cm in height and 38.5 cm in width. It was exhibited in the museum’s presentation of Dutch Golden Age paintings in 2019.

Context

Jan Vermeulen's 1660 oil painting Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments exemplifies Dutch Golden Age still life genre, depicting a table arrangement with books, a terrestrial globe, and various musical instruments including a violin, lute, and flute on a tablecloth, reflecting contemporary interests in scholarly pursuits and artistic refinement. The work is part of the Mauritshuis collection in The Hague, where it remains on display, anchoring Vermeulen's oeuvre within the broader context of 17th-century Dutch painting and still life traditions.

Legacy

The painting's presence in the Mauritshuis collection has ensured continued scholarly attention to Vermeulen's work, particularly regarding his role in Dutch Golden Age still life. Its depiction of global trade elements like the globe and diverse musical instruments has informed studies on symbolic complexity in 17th-century compositions. The work remains frequently reproduced in academic publications on Baroque genre painting.

Overview

Created in 1660 by Jan Vermeulen, a Haarlem painter associated with the Dutch Golden Age, this oil on canvas assembles a modest collection of scholarly and musical objects. A darkened backdrop frames a table partially covered by a deep‑green cloth, upon which lie three open volumes, a small wooden globe on a stand, and a few wind instruments, all illuminated by a gentle, warm light.